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The articles in this volume investigate changes in texts that became to be regarded as holy and unchangeable in Judaism and Christianity. The volume seeks to draw attention to the “empirical” evidence from Qumran, the Septuagint as well as from passages in the Hebrew Scriptures that have been shaped by the use of other texts. The contributions are divided into three main sections: The first section deals with methodological questions concerning textual changes. The second section consists of concrete examples from the Hebrew Bible, Qumran and Septuagint on how the texts were changed, corrected, edited and interpreted. The contributions of the third section will investigate the general influence and impact of Deuteronomistic ideology and phraseology on later texts.

Ben Sira lived in an era when Hellenistic influences continued to spread in Palestine. The supreme political power was in the hands of foreign rulers. Under these circumstances it is no wonder that Ben Sira discusses the position of foreign nations in several passages. The tone varies due to the given context. This study demonstrates that Ben Sira’s relationship to foreign nations is best defined as “balanced”, as his attitude is neither thoroughly hostile nor that of uncritically embracing Gentiles. On the basis of certain passages, one can get the impression that even the foreigners could be recipients of the Torah. On the other hand, some nations were regarded by earlier biblical authors as archenemies of Israel, and these anti-elect people caused also Ben Sira’s anger to be provoked. Ben Sira was deeply rooted in Judaism but this did not prevent him from being open toward foreign influences as far as they were compatible with his religious and cultural heritage.

Experts of deuterocanonical and cognate literature shed light on how an individual or a group understood catastrophes in the late Second Temple Judaism. The essays in this volume carefully study questions like: What kind of acts lead to a catastrophe? Is there a chance to avoid a catastrophe? How to respond to a catastrophic situation? Ancient thinkers had strategies for survival and adapting to new situations. The contributors here select and analyze relevant passages covering the main works of the era from Ben Sira to the Book of Judith, from the Book of Tobit to early rabbinic liturgy. They focus on cognitive, psychological, social and ritual mechanisms that helped the ancient authors and their audiences cope with calamities. Disasters do not belong only to the past. Even in the present times people feel themselves weak and vulnerable in front of threatening catastrophes. The strategies developed by the ancient people can offer us insights to topics such as hope and solidarity.